Chapter 10
Somewhere, in the neighbouring kingdom's palace, some time before Prince and Ryat arrive...
Just give up already, fairy! That way, you can keep your life. All it takes, is a little contract with me.
When Robin woke up, she found herself chained to a wall in an unfamiliar place. Her wrists were tied to chains, pulling her arms up uncomfortably. There were a pair of wings painted behind her on the wall, showing, the kidnapper knew exactly what he was doing.
There's no way I'm signing that thing! Never in their life should a fairy sign an「Obedience Contract」!
That was what Ethernia taught her. The man in front of her was none other, than Latem's young king, Serpa. Some guys just can't accept rejection, can they...? (Ref. to Chapter 1) And now, he's trying to force an Obedience Contract on her. These are different from the agreements between kingdoms and fairies. The usual「Guardian Fairy Contract」makes a fairy do anything the current ruler of their kingdom asks for, and in return, the kingdom needs to cater to the fairy's every possible need and want. An Obedience Contract is one-sided. It treats the one signing as a slave. They'd have no way to undo it, and they would have to do whatever the one who made them sign wishes for. And Robin wasn't gonna fall for that. But, Serpa wasn't going to let it go either.
How interesting...
He clenched his teeth, annoyed.
Then how about... Oh~! Look who showed up...
He said with a sinister grin. The castle had a security broadcast system, showing Serpa all the things happenning in the corridors.
That idiot!
Robin hissed as she saw Prince appear on the screen.
An idiot, indeed! But that's why I like idiots. They are fooled way too easily.
Serpa smirked, enjoying seeing the dread cloud the fairy's face.
Robin's heart sank as she saw her doppelganger approach her friends. The system had no voice, just image, so she could only imagine the things that could've been said between them.
Before Serpa could coerce her into signing, Prince swung his sword on the screen. It was clear the play weren't successful.
But Serpa wasn't looking defeated. He still had his confidence, and Robin quickly realized why.
Don't come in, Prince!
Robin! Wha-
But it was too late. A large cage fell on the entering boys.
Welcome, intruders!
The lady, after dodging the cage, slithered up to Serpa's side, who proudly exclaimed.
I won!
Prince felt devastated. He got caught in a trap and even worse... they chained up Robin. How dare they-?! But wait... why...
Why hasn't she broken those chains yet? Is that what you're thinking?
It was as if Serpa read his mind, making him feel even more powerless. But their captor continued.
These are called anti-fairy chains. They are blocking the user's magic power-
BEEP! BOO! WRONG! I wasn't thinking that at all~
Robin interrupted him, lifting some of the heavy mood in the room.
Then, what were you thinking?!
I'm hungry.
WHA-??!
This place sucks. I wanna go home. You start to annoy me. What's with that arrogance of yours? We'll escape anyway. Can't you be more original? I already knew you bought these chains. You didn't even bother removing the labels. Do you think I'm a joke? I'm not. You are-
ENOUGH!
It was too much for Serpa. But the two caged boys couldn't help themselves. They both burst out laughing. This made Serpa so furious, he was going to-
Now!
Robin's shout broke into the laughter. Prince threw his sword towards her, the blade piercing the wall beside her hand. Before Serpa could react, Robin took the sword and cut her chains.
The tables have turned.
Robin was towering over Serpa, with a blade on her shoulder.
I'm sorry! I'm terribly sorry!
He trembled on the ground, bodily fluids staining his pants.
Do not EVER come close to us again. If you do...
She swung the sword to his neck.
I WON'T! I WON'T!
Robin destroyed the cage with a spell and returned Prince's weapon.
Let's go.
She said. But At had remembered something important they all seemed to have forgotten about.
What about the antidote?
Robin noted his quick thinking. It was in fact one of Serpa's men who poisoned her and made her faint; unfortunately, Prince got a dose of it too, thus his second round of daily unconsciousness.
He doesn't have it. I'll make it myself
She said calmly, shooting Serpa a deadly glare.
On their was back, as Robin re-opened the portal, using the remnants of the devices, she asked Prince.
How did you know it wasn't me?
How do you know about that...?
Prince's face took on a crimson hue but he tried to play it off as Robin told him about the security system.
Well, she was obviously too perfect to be you... No messy hair, no crumples clothes...
HEY!
Robin cut his playful teasing off with a discontented shout. But as they bickered away, At wondered... this wasn't what Prince told him.